By Sizakele Nduli
Small businesses in the tourism sector are set to benefit from the recent announcement of the introduction of an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) system by President Cyril Ramaphosa.
The ETA system will use artificial intelligence (AI) and automation to streamline the process of issuing tourist visas. This will help reduce delays, prevent corruption and speed up visa applications for travellers coming from countries that require visas to visit South Africa.
Tourism Business Council of South Africa CEO Tshifhiwa Tshivenga believes the ETA system will attract more international tourists.
“The fact that more people are going to come to South Africa, and more people may come to South Africa, means that there will be more tourists on the ground, which will benefit [SMMEs] on the ground,” he said.
The system does not apply to countries like the US or UK, which already have visa-free access.
“For countries that require visas to visit South Africa, we believe the ETA can be a game changer in ensuring that tourists get their visas or travel authorisation faster,” Tshivenga said.
He explained to Vutivi News that the ETA system was not new in the world of tourism. Countries such as the UK and New Zealand required all travellers to complete an ETA form, even those who did not need a visa to enter.
However, he said this should not be the case for South Africa, as it would add an extra layer of complexity.
With over 100 countries already allowed to enter South Africa without a visa, he argued that ETA should not be introduced for travellers from these visa-exempt nations.
From 1 December 16 January 2025, South Africa saw an influx of 815,956 visitors, including 34,605 international overnight visitors, 414,171 domestic overnight guests and 367,180 day visitors.
This surge in activity is expected to generate a direct spend of R1.6 billion, contribute R4 billion to the national GDP and create 7366 jobs.
